ODA Topics 6
ODA Public Relations
—In Order to Make ODA Feel Closer and More Familiar—
● Information dissemination about development cooperation
According to a public opinion survey Note 1 conducted by Japan’s Cabinet Office in 2021, 87.4% of respondents answered that in development cooperation in the future “Japan should more actively promote development cooperation” or “The current level of development cooperation is appropriate,” indicating a positive evaluation for development cooperation. Aside from the growing public awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this positive public opinion about development cooperation in Japan shows the acknowledgment of Japanese people about how “No one is safe until everyone is safe” through the worldwide spread of COVID-19, as well as their broad understanding of the fact that the growth of developing countries will eventually have a favorable impact on the Japanese economy and the stability of their daily lives.
This column introduces MOFA’s various initiatives for information dissemination and public policy communication on the significance of Japan’s development cooperation.
● TV dramas/Documentaries
The documentary video, “Efforts for a free and open ocean,” which closely covers scenes of ODA related to the ocean
MOFA works on a new initiative to produce public relations contents that make use of high-profile performers in order to deliver its message to a broader range of the public.
One of the initiatives is the production of a TV drama, “The First Step: Sekai wo Tsunagu Ainoshirushi,” Note 2 with the cooperation of Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd. The drama takes place at MOFA’s International Cooperation Bureau, as well as at actual international cooperation sites, and features TV personality and author Mr. MATAYOSHI Naoki. This drama transmits stories of love, hope, and courage through parent-child affections and the growth of characters, revolving around the Maternal and Child Health Handbook, which was introduced to the world through ODA.
MOFA also produced the documentary video, “Efforts for a free and open ocean,” Note 3 which closely covered scenes of ODA related to the ocean, with actor Mr. YOSHIHARA Mitsuo acting as a reporter. Bearing in mind the diplomatically important concept of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” this video vividly shows various forms of Japanese cooperation in the safety and security of marine traffic, including the preparation of nautical charts by the Japan Coast Guard, support for capacity development related to Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), and to law enforcement/rescue operations at sea, as well as Japan’s support for quality infrastructure in coastal development to achieve connectivity.
● Go! ODA-Man
Go! ODA-Man
ODA-Man, who has marked its fifth year as MOFA’s ODA PR character (see also “Strengthening Public Relations and Information Dissemination”), has also released a variety of videos Note 4 to inform people about the contribution of Japan’s ODA to the world. These videos are well-received. In 2022, seizing the opportunity of the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8), ODA-Man released three videos about Japanese development cooperation for Africa: “ODA for Africa’s Rice Cultivation,” “ODA for ICT Development in Africa,” and “ODA for the Grand Egyptian Museum.”
● Global Festa JAPAN 2022
In October 2022, the international cooperation event Global Festa JAPAN 2022 Note 5 was organized. At this 31st Global Festa JAPAN, under the theme of “Connecting the world. Creating the future together. Everyone participating in international cooperation,” the number of participating organizations was more than doubled from the previous year so that a greater number of people would learn about countries and regions, with extensive exhibition booths, including through securing space, particularly for foreign missions in Japan, as well as allowing the booths to sell products.
At the Global Festa, MOFA sponsored stage programs on the theme of utilizing ODA for the overseas expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises, which usually do not come into much contact with ODA, and held panel discussions on the theme of the participation of the younger generation in future international cooperation. MOFA also held an award presentation ceremony for its photo contest, which has become customary. There was a record number of 256 entries for the 2022 photo contest, in which professional photographer Mr. AOKI Hiroshi together with Mr. YONEYAMA Kazuhisa of Leica Camera Japan Co., Ltd. served as judges and selected the winning works. The results are available in the event report Note 6 on the ODA website.
Note 1: The FY2021 Public Opinion Survey on Diplomacy took place from September to November 2021. The Cabinet Office entrusted it to a survey organization, which implemented a mail survey of 3,000 Japanese nationals aged 18 and over across Japan (https://survey.gov-online.go.jp/r03/r03-gaiko/index.html (in Japanese only)).
Note 2: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/sanka/page22_001443.html (in Japanese only)
Note 3: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/sanka/page22_001603.html (in Japanese only)
Note 4: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/press/event/page22_001008.html (in Japanese only)
Note 5: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/press/event/page24_000157.html (in Japanese only)
Note 6: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/oda/press/event/page23_001348.html (in Japanese only)